This chapter is from the book

One of the biggest safety misconceptions among consumers and online merchants is that their computer software assures effective Internet security; however, malware is a persistent problem for all concerned.

In this chapter, we’ll explain the ways consumers’ and merchants’ computers are at risk of becoming infected by malware, including so-called viruses, worms, Trojans, zombies, spyware, and more.

We’ll also identify unique malware security challenges and solutions for online merchants to help protect their computers, networks, and customer data.

All types of malware (short for malicious software), such as viruses, worms, Trojans, and spyware, are written to harm or exploit computers and networks, either as acts of mere malice, or, more often and of greater concern, to steal personal and financial information for criminal gain.

While malware targets everyone who visits the Internet or uses a computer, it poses a unique threat to online merchants, whose websites are often vulnerable in more ways than their owners realize. Cybercriminals are on the lookout for such weaknesses, viewing unsecured data as an open invitation to scam and deprive legitimate businesses, especially new online merchants.

Fast Fact

With 2.1 billion people actively using the Internet, according to Pingdom, Web users account for 30 percent of the planet’s population. Security experts estimate that hundreds of millions of malware-infected computers are roaming the Internet, too, looking for vulnerabilities in computers or exploiting malicious URLs. Between one-quarter and one-third of all home computer systems are already infected with some type of malware.

Cybercriminals use special malware to victimize others in varying degrees, ranging from minor annoyances (such as pop-up ads in a browser) to major financial losses (such as fraud committed using stolen credit card or banking details).

Fast Fact

In its annual Threat Report, the security software company Symantec said that it stopped 5.5 billion malicious attacks in 2011, even as cyberattacks grew 81 percent in 2011, with up to 1.1 million personal identities stolen via malware.